Season 2 Episode 5:
Empathic Intelligence (Pt.1)
In this two-part series, Kris & Kamatara dive deep into the transformative power of empathic intelligence with special guest Meenadchi (she/her), somatic healing practitioner and author of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication. In Part 1, we explore what empathy and empathic intelligence truly are, including a breakdown of their two core components and the three types of empathy. We also discuss the importance of body sovereignty and boundaries in empathic practice—especially within the power dynamics that often arise in poverty alleviation work. Empathy isn’t just about being nice; it’s about cultivating emotional fluency and embodied awareness to navigate difference, power, and complexity with care.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in Episode 6, where we continue the conversation with Meenadchi and explore how empathic intelligence is essential for navigating trauma, poverty, systems change, and conflict.
About the Guest
Meenadchi (she/her) is a healing practitioner, TEDx speaker, and the author of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication, a widely respected guide that reinterprets traditional NVC through a decolonial, trauma-informed, and body-centered lens. With a background in clinical mental health and a commitment to ancestral healing, Meenadchi brings over a decade of facilitation experience to spaces that seek to center collective care, relational integrity, and embodied communication.
Meenadchi’s work has supported thousands of people across diverse communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and system-impacted groups, as well as educators, therapists, and nonprofit leaders. Her signature facilitation style integrates somatic awareness, values-based inquiry, and ancestral technologies to support deep transformation. Her work guides learners to move beyond scripted language into communication that honors dignity, integrity, and interdependence.